Container with improved liquid dispensing ability

Abstract

A container comprises a receptacle, a manually-operated positive displacement dispensing nozzle, and a draw tube extending from the nozzle. The receptacle includes an upper body wall and an intermediate body wall connected by a first curved wall, and a lower sump wall connected with the intermediate body wall by a second curved wall. The lower sump wall and a bottom wall are connected by a third curved wall. The second curved wall, the lower sump wall, the third curved wall and the bottom wall form a sump into which the draw tube lower end extends to a midpoint. The volume of the sump below the midpoint is substantially equal to the volume of the sump above the midpoint, the draw tube end is spaced substantially equal distance from the surrounding lower sump wall, and the volume of the sump is about three times the volume of the draw tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A dispenser, comprising
 (a) a receptacle for holding a liquid, wherein the receptacle includes (i) an upper, vertically arranged body wall, (ii) an intermediate, inwardly slanted body wall, wherein the intermediate body portion is arranged at an angle in a range of from 10 to 30 degrees with respect to the horizontal, (iii) a lower, vertically arranged sump wall, and (iv) a bottom wall, 
 wherein the upper body wall and the intermediate body wall are connected by a first curved wall, the intermediate body wall and the lower sump wall are connected by a second curved wall, and the lower sump wall and the bottom wall are connected by a third curved wall, wherein the first and second curved walls have a radius of curvature of 0.2 to 0.6 inches and the third curved wall has a radius of curvature of 0.01 to 0.15 inches, and 
 wherein the second curved wall, the lower sump wall, the third curved wall and the bottom wall form a sump; 
 (b) a neck arranged at the top of the receptacle, the neck having a smaller diameter than a largest diameter of the receptacle, the neck being provided with an opening; 
 (c) a manually-operated positive displacement trigger-actuated dispensing nozzle for dispensing liquid from the dispenser, arranged to cover the opening; and 
 (d) a draw tube extending from the dispensing nozzle, through the opening, and into the receptacle, 
 wherein the draw tube has a lower end which extends into the sump to a midpoint at which the volume of the sump below the draw tube end is equal to the volume of the sump above the draw tube end, wherein the draw tube end is spaced equal distance from the surrounding lower sump wall, and wherein the volume of the sump is three times the volume of the draw tube. 
 
     
     
       2. The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle further includes a top wall connecting the upper body wall and the neck. 
     
     
       3. The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the sump is arranged along a longitudinal axis of the receptacle. 
     
     
       4. The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the sump is offset from a longitudinal axis of the receptacle. 
     
     
       5. The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall has a surface area which is at least 90% less than a surface area of a cross section of the receptacle at the upper body wall. 
     
     
       6. The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing nozzle is removably attached to the neck of the receptacle. 
     
     
       7. The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing nozzle includes a screw cap which removably attaches to screw threads on the neck of the receptacle. 
     
     
       8. The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing nozzle is oriented to dispense liquid in a direction perpendicular to the vertically arranged walls of the receptacle, whereby aiming the dispensing nozzle to dispense liquid agent towards a horizontal surface results in tilting of the receptacle at an angle with respect to a vertical. 
     
     
       9. The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a base portion arranged on an exterior of the receptacle and enclosing the sump and the intermediate body portion. 
     
     
       10. The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a pedestal on which the receptacle is provided. 
     
     
       11. The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate body portion has a truncated conical configuration. 
     
     
       12. The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate body portion has a truncated pyramidal configuration. 
     
     
       13. The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein a distance from an edge of the second curved wall adjacent the intermediate body wall to the height of the midpoint is substantially equal to the distance from the height of the midpoint to the bottom wall of the sump. 
     
     
       14. A method of dispensing liquid from a dispenser which comprises
 (a) a receptacle holding the liquid, wherein the receptacle includes (i) an upper, vertically arranged body wall, (ii) an intermediate, inwardly slanted body wall arranged at an angle of from 10 to 30 degrees with respect to the horizontal, (iii) a lower, vertically arranged sump wall, and (iv) a bottom wall, wherein the upper body wall and the intermediate body wall are connected by a first curved wall, the intermediate body wall and the lower sump wall are connected by a second curved wall, and the lower sump wall and the bottom wall are connected by a third curved wall, wherein the first and second curved walls have a radius of curvature of 0.2 to 0.6 inches and the third curved wall has a radius of curvature of 0.01 to 0.15 inches, and wherein the second curved wall, the lower sump wall, the third curved wall and the bottom wall form a sump; 
 (b) a manually-operated positive displacement trigger-actuated dispensing nozzle for dispensing the liquid from the dispenser; and 
 (c) a draw tube extending from the dispensing nozzle, wherein the draw tube has a lower end which extends into the sump to a midpoint at which the volume of the sump below the draw tube end is equal to the volume of the sump above the draw tube end, wherein the draw tube end is spaced equal distance from the surrounding lower sump wall, and wherein the volume of the sump is three times the volume of the draw tube, 
 the method comprising manually actuating the trigger-actuated dispensing nozzle to draw liquid from the sump, with positive liquid pressure being maintained in the draw tube. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the dispensing nozzle is oriented to dispense liquid in a direction perpendicular to the vertically arranged walls of the receptacle, and the method comprises aiming the dispensing nozzle to dispense liquid agent towards a horizontal surface by tilting the receptacle at an angle with respect to a vertical, with liquid being maintained in the sump and positive liquid pressure being maintained in the draw tube.